Fashion Week begins -- but what's the mood like?

Fashion Week begins -- but what's the mood like?

As one of the biggest fashion dos in the country opens today, Rajesh Karkera captures the vibe -- this is Lakme Fashion Week, Winter/Festive 2012.

A lot has been said about Lakme Fashion Week losing its lustre in this, it's latest instalment.

The stalwarts like Rohit Bal and Manish Malhotra are nowhere on the scene, celeb attendance is expected to hit an alltime low and for the first time, the Grand Finale is being shared by two up-and-coming designers instead of being a solo showcase by one of the industry veterans.

What's more, Delhi Couture Week, staged by the Fashion Design Council of India, starts just as the LFW ends and has managed to lure some of the biggest names in the business.

Whether the LFW sinks or swims this season remains to be seen -- will high-profilers like Wendell Rodricks, Ritu Beri and Narendra Kumar, who have prominent shows coming up, ensure it's as much of a success as in past years?

Here we bring you stills from the first few hours, before the very first showing at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai.